I’m excited to announce the Zune Spring Update: Zune 2.5. We’re adding new features and enhancements to your Zune, the Zune software, Zune Social and TV shows in Zune Marketplace.

For details on the update, head to the press release, but at a high level, in the Spring update:

• Zune cards becomes more portable.  You can already put it on social networking or other websites – now you can drag and drop your friend’s cards onto your player.  If you have a Zune Pass that means you get full track versions of everything they’ve been listening to on your Zune
• We’re opening a video store in Zune Marketplace, with 800 episodes, from partners like NBC, MTV, Comedy Central, Turner and more.
• Adds a number of customer-requested features and improvements to the PC software and Zune Social – like autoplaylists, browse your collection by genre and gapless playback on your Zune

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Mike Klucher talks about building XNA Framework games for the Zune and shows the soon-to-be-released CTP that enables developers to build Zune projects, adds a new menu on your Zune for games, and also enables device debugging directly from Visual Studio.
For more information, go to creators.xna.com.

Low res version
MP4 version

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Looks like games are coming for the Zune after all! Microsoft just announced XNA Studio developers will be able to use the Zune as a multiplayer wireless mobile gaming platform. Details are sparse at this point, but it looks like it's going to be second gen Zunes only, since it was specifically mentioned that it'd take advantage of the touchpad controls. We'll let you know more as we get it.
Update: Microsoft hasn't made any final decisions as to whether the specific hardware will be necessary, and has hinted that it would be up to the game developers to decide whether to make use of the Zunepad in second-gen models, or make controls work with first-gen Zunes as well.

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Wow. There are a ton of bullet items in this patch! The following was posted by Cesar in the Zune.net forums…

• Fixed top crashing bugs submitted by users
• Fixed bug where Zune software thinks the device memory is full (but isn’t)

Key Marketplace fixes

• Allow users to view top music videos in marketplace
• Misc improved error messaging including splitting sign-in issues into 4 separate errors for customer and support benefit
• Retrieval of subscription download history no longer stalls if the content is revoked
• Better handling of accounts that have expired credit cards
• Podcasts with spaces in their name can now be subscribed to
• Marketplace no longer blocks explicit content purchases when parental controls are set to allow
• Points balance label is now updated when user purchases new points

Key Player UI fixes

• Allow zooming in/out (2x, 4x, fullscreen) during video playback to prevent stretched playback
• Ability to switch Zune to GDI mode through command-line parameter

Key Podcast fixes

• Allow subscriptions to podcasts larger than 10MB
• Fixed some parsing errors that prevented some podcasts from syncing to the device
• Fixed bug where podcasts were unsubscribing themselves

Key Setup fixes

• Fixed numerous bugs affecting build to build upgrades
• Improved installation for users accessing from corporate networks
• Fixed driver uninstall failures
• Included device 2.3 firmware in client download
• Failure in creating system restore point no longer blocks client installation

Key Sync fixes

• Fixed issues with reverse sync
• Fixes issues with sync meter UI showing incorrect information as to what is on the device
• Fixed issues using wireless sync with multiple devices to the same PC
• Fixed a few different issues setting up wireless sync
• Device is no longer being reported as full even after deleting large file from device
• Device content is no longer being turned into guest content when it shouldn’t be
• Content with bad metadata now shows properly so it can be removed from device
• Turning off “autolaunch when a Zune device is connected” no longer prevents “Sync Now” from working from a wirelessly connected device
• Podcast bookmarking is now transferred/saved to the device
• Wireless sync connection continues to work after rebooting host computer
• Unsubscribe podcast from device now works properly
• Changing album art in the client now updates the device as well
• Duplicate tracks are no longer synced to the device twice

Key Xbox Streaming bug fixes

• Xbox Streaming now monitors the rip folder if user changes default location
• No need to reinstall client to fix Xbox Streaming when upgrading from XP to Vista

Key Infrastructure fixes

• Vista x64 customers can now get to web help from error messages
• Client no longer crashes if database is corrupted

Key Library fixes

• Changes in pictures or video metadata made outside client will now get updated in the library
• UI is now smoother during file groveling
• When a track is added to an album we will now always update the track on disc
• User can now update album art for marketplace tracks
• ‘Unknown Artist’ metadata is no longer written to files when writing out user edit of album name
• Renaming  an artist now more reliably keeps the change
• Two different copies of the same album no longer get duplicated down to one when it shouldn’t
• Access violation no longer occurs when checking song properties in the burn list
• Multi-disc albums imported from iTunes no longer show in the client as a single disc album
• Thumbnails for video content now extract on XP properly

Download Zune 2.3

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Windows Mobile 7 will have Zune built in, and use motion gestures, something the iPhone does not? 

The guys over at InsideMicrosoft seem to have gotten their hands on some confidential internal-use-only documents that detail tons of information about the up-coming Windows Mobile 7 complete with images!!  Check out what we might expect:  

• Windows Mobile 7 will ... emphasize the use of touch on the device, as well as motion gestures created by using the device. It is, absolutely, Microsoft’s effort to beat back the iPhone, and the iPhone is referenced several times in the document.
• Windows Mobile 7 will use touch gestures, similar to how the iPhone does. You will be able to flick through lists, pan, swipe sideway, draw on the screen. A lot of emphasis has been put on making navigation easier and doing away with scrollbars, including a new scroll handle that allows for multiple ways of finding items extremely fast.

• Windows Mobile 7 will use motion gestures, something the iPhone does not. It will not use an intricate and complicated series of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Instead, it will use the camera on the phone to detect motions and create appropriate actions.  You will be able to shake, twist and otherwise manipulate the phone and get things done. The phone will be able to perform actions when placed face down on a surface, and it will know when it is in your pocket or bag.  The web browser will incorporate gestures for back and forward actions. Here’s an image:

• Gestures shown include in music or a slideshow, shaking the phone left or right to go to the previous or next song or photo, and shaking the phone in order to shuffle it. Here’s an image, which may only be a mockup, or it is showing us what Windows Media Player will look like on Windows Mobile 7, as well as the picture viewer

• Windows Mobile 7 will have an exciting locking screen, that will allow you to play around with it, draw on it, shake it and completely otherwise mess with it.  Here’s an example of a gesture, shaking the phone to wake it up:

• Windows Mobile 7 will have dramatically improved visuals, different from the iPhone and much more similar to the dark and futuristic visuals of Windows Vista. It will feature graphical transitions, subtle effects, and other things to make it more interesting to look at. This is not detailed in the document, but featured in the multitude of screenshots.  An example of the screen showing a transition from the device being asleep to awake:

• Windows Mobile 7 is designed to use the finger, not the stylus, though many devices will be required to include a stylus. It is designed to be easy to use with the hand, including one-handed, and to be fun to use and easy to understand. It is designed to be used on devices with no buttons, few buttons, lots of buttons, full keyboards, and devices without touch screens. 

• Windows Mobile 7 is clearly designed for better media playback, with screenshots indicating a much-improved Media Player and photo gallery application. There is talk in the document of a games mode. Mobile Internet Explorer runs full-screen web pages in a minimalistic interface, and has “tabbed” browsing, except you can switch tabs by shaking the phone.  A filmstrip view is shown, with the music filmstrip clearly showing a Zune icon with the option to purchase the song:

Worst thing about this whole deal is Windows Mobile 7 will not ship until 2009, according to the document.  Looks like we're gonna have to wait...

Original Source: ZuneBoards.com

Via: Zune Style

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Recently with so much talk of Kindle, I was thinking of how to read e-books or other documents such as PDF on my Zune. Then I came across a very handy application eBook to Images from Merlin Software. After you open any ebook in this program, it converts them into portable friendly images.

It supports txt, pdf, html, lit files which can be converted to images. And its a freeware.

As you can see a document 'Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3' opened in Zune friendly format which was converted from a PDF, it can be read very easily on Zune. But it only converts texts without any image. The text are crisp, sharp and clear on Zune & can be easily read.

To get an exact idea of what size is obtained after conversion, I got the actual ebook 'Alice in Wonderland' from Project Gutenberg. It was text file of size 160KB. Now let us convert this e-book for reading it in Zune.

Start the eBook to Images and import the e-book by pressing 'open ebook' button.

And choose 'Custom' and set Screen width as 320 and Height as 240 and Image Type as JPG. Check 'Page numbers' which will display Page numbers on Top right. Let the Font be default 'Arial' as it gives very good clarity after conversion. I tried with 'Calibri' Font but it was bit thin so it may be a bit difficult for some to read. And change any other option as needed as Inverse colors, changing Background and text colors, Font Size etc. Now press 'Convert to images' button & that's all.

Now the 160KB ebook in text format is converted into series of images which can be read in Zune. After conversion of this, it was ~ 16MB in size with 330 JPGs format images which can be read in Zune. These images were put in folders, each folder containing 100 images, this can be set in options according to your choice.

The e-book after conversion is very clear & sharp to read in Zune. I have kept default background and text color and it was comfortable to read for long duration also. If one wants, one can play it as Slide Show, Just increase the Transition time to 30sec. so that one can read the full page and the page will change automatically and you will keep Enjoying reading any E-Book on your Zune. Also one can set the brightness to low for long readings. These can be changed from the 'settings' option of Zune.

So all the E-book Fans, Use your Zune to read your E-books on Zune.

Let us see what else Zune can do !! Zune Rocks !!

Original Source: meraTechPort

Via: Zune Style

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Amazon.com is giving the new Zune 80 a slight $9 price cut !  They ensure delivery before the gift-giving day as well as throwing in $5 worth of music!  Check it out!

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Do you want your friends on Facebook to see what’s playing in your Zune software? Even though Microsoft has a stake in Facebook we’ve not seen official Zune integration into Facebook yet. However, a crafty Zune forums user has posted instructions for getting your Zune Card into Facebook. While there are a few steps to it, it’s really not too tough and you should up and running in no time.

Here is my Zune Card (zSilverlight)

<div id="zunecard_big" class="zunecard"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://social.zune.net//xweb/lx/swf/zunecard.swf?ver=1192" style="" id="flashUserCard" name="flashUserCard" bgcolor="#FFF" wmode="opaque" salign="tl" flashvars="baseURL=http%3a%2f%2fsocial.zune.net%2fzcard%2fusercardservice.ashx%3fzunetag%3dYourZuneTagHere%26src%3dlarge&MMplayerType=PlugIn" height="260" width="548"></div>

to add this card on Facebook, simply follow the following 2 easy steps:

1. Add the application named "Profile Box" to your profile. http://apps.facebook.com/profilebox/
2. Now copy & paste the code I posted above into the application("Profile Box") you just added.
3. Replace YourZuneTagHere with your Zune tag id. In case you have a tag with a 'space' then add "+" between the two words. Example for the tag "cent dru", use "cent+dru".

UPDATE (Zune Card Facebook Application):
Now you can add your Zune Card to your facebook profile by this Zune Card facebook app. Just enter your Zune tag and you'r done.
Check it out: http://apps.facebook.com/my_zune_card/

Source: Zune Style

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Microsoft today has made available the entire preloaded contents pack downloadable (ZIP) of the newer Zunes available for download. The reason this has been made available is that if you have accidentally deleted the preloaded content, you can download it.

This comes at a whopping size of 410MB which contains all of the preloaded content on the 2nd-generation Zunes.

Audio Tracks
Datarock, “Fa-Fa-Fa”
Mexican Institute of Sound, “El Microphono”
Sidestepper, “Paloma”
CéU, “Ave Cruz”
Barenaked Ladies, “Easy”
John Doe, “Golden State”
The Handsome Furs, “Cannot Get Started”
Pop Levi, “Sugar Assault Me Now”
Junkie XL, “Dark Territory”
Pacha Massive, “Don’t Let Go”

Music Videos
Avril Lavigne, “Make Five Wishes” Trailer
Low, “The Hatchet”
Pacha Massive, “Don’t Let Go”
Joya, “Funky C”
Dntel, “The Distance”

Podcasts
KEXP Live
“This American Life: Squirrel Cop”
Nylon TV
MSNBC.com
Intro to Podcasts
Intro to Podcasts (Spanish)

Short Videos
“Red Bull BC1″ (Red Bull)
“A Passion for Film Making” (IFC)
“First Kiss” (CAPiTA Snowboarding)

Images
“Illume,” Red Bull (44 images)
Zune Image Set (42 images)

Source: ZuneStyle.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Thanks to the Zune 2 firmware update and the $89 deal, the Brown Zune is outselling every other player (flash or hard drive) on Amazon.

Source: ZuneStyle.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

ZuneBoards.com has got some exclusive info from Microsoft about the new features we can expect from all the Zunes come this Tuesday:

1.      Pairing Zune to a new computer will not delete your content.  In 1.0 and with iPods, they require you delete all of your content when you pair it with a new computer.  In 2.0, this requirement didn’t seem to be very customer-friendly and was lifted.

2.      Copy music to your computer.  Reverse sync was a feature in v1 and we’ve made it even easier to do in v2.  When looking at music in your device, just click and drag any music to the computer icon in the bottom left of the screen, and you can copy your music to the computer you’re connected to.  This is especially great when moving music from your home PC to your work PC and vice-versa.

3.      Express yourself.  The Zune Social is launching in beta, and it is incredible how addictive it is to be able to see what music your friends are playing and what their favorite artists are.  The Zune Cards are huge, beautiful and customizable so that you can truly make it yours.

4.      Zune 4, 8 and 80 can sync 720x480 (30fps) or 720x576 (25 fps) video natively.  This means less transcoding required, and your video will look great on your Zune 80 with TV-OUT enabled.

5.      MP3s in the marketplace will not have watermarking.  Some labels are requiring watermarking to sell MP3 content, and thus far we’ve chosen to stick with our principles and refuse that content.

6.      All Zunes will support WMA lossless natively.  No more transcoding of your best looking content.

7.      Zune 80 will come with premium headphones.  These headphones sound fantastic and will be retailing for $39.99 if purchased separately.  With Zune 80, they come in the box.

8.      Wireless send is improved.  Music that you send can be played for three plays.  We’ve dropped the three-day time restriction from sent music.

9.      We’ve added music videos to the marketplace.  Music Videos will be sold through the marketplace, giving you another option to get great video content on your device.

10.  Native podcasting support.  We have separate sections in the collection, marketplace, and in the device UI to support podcasting.  There is a whole editorial team working on making the marketplace the best way to discover and subscribe to new podcasts.

11.  All Zunes have the same resolution screen.  That means that the Zune 4 and 8, despite having a smaller screen that their bigger brothers, get to use the full hi-def UI experience complete with animations and blending transitions that make the device feel smooth and beautiful.

12.  Change your background.  We include five different, gorgeous, hi-def backgrounds that you can choose from to customize the look of your software.

13.  Full-bleed artist art.  For the most popular artists, we will have huge, gorgeous full-window art of the artist to make your shopping experience that much closer to being backstage with the band.

14.  More marketplace genres.  People complained about the number of genres, and we’ve expanded to 17 top-level genres and many more sub-genres to help you find the music you’re looking for.

15.  Everything is upgradable.  We have built an infrastructure to be able to rapidly turn around fixes and feature updates.  I can make no promises on when future updates will come, but I can say that we’re already working on code for post-release updates.

Here are a few things to consider in your buying decisions:

·         Zune is only supported on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista.

·         DVR-MS/Media Center videos are only supported in editions of Vista which include Media Center.  They are not supported in XP Media Center.

·         Zune 4 and 8 do not support TV-OUT.

·         Zune 4, 8 and 80 do not have an equalizer.

·         There are no automatic/smart playlists in the v2 software.

·         Zune 30 does not support WPA2 for wireless sync.

·         Only English, French and Spanish characters are supported on the device.

I received this through an email from Justin NG the Social Engineer for the Zune.

You are the man Lacrosse!

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Have you wondered why the Zune 80 only has 1 color to choose from? Have you wondered if Microsoft is hiding some big secret for launch day? According to our source inside of Microsoft, this information is absolutely top secret. Well,
it was until now. Here is the exact leak from our source verbatim:

"...but there is
something that Microsoft is holding onto releasing information...

about until Tuesday. They have been keeping this info very secret, as they want
to get the "bang" effect when it is announced. There is going to be an option from the
Zune website called "ZUNE ORIGINALS". People who order their zune from Zune.net, will have the added
bonus of being able to customize their zune. This will include colour, up to five lines of custom
text, and the choice of 25 preset logos that they can have etched into their zune prior to delivery.
There will be no added cost, but it is only available through Zune.Net...
...I do believe that Microsoft will go Ape$h%t if this info gets out before V2 release on Tuesday"
Well there you have it, customized Zune 80's direct from Zune.net including colors, text, and
etched logos. But please keep this a secret, the last thing we need is Microsoft going Ape$h%t on us. If you are skeptical of our source, take a look at some documents and codenames
he has revealed in the past months.

News Credit: zunescene.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

You can't keep a good retailer down, especially the kind that gadget nerds like us so adore: those that breaking sales embargoes and put hotly anticipated product (like these new Zunes, for example) on store shelves early. Behold, new Zunes -- which aren't supposed to be on sale until next week -- popping up on store shelves at Circuit City and Target. Granted, we don't know how many (if any) sold, since it sounds like they may have actually gotten pulled before customers made a dash for the registers, but who knows, perhaps you might strike Zune gold by trawling the shelves at your local mega-retailer this very weekend. You know who to tip off if you bring home the booty, right? (Note: read link only hits up the Target Zunes, not CC's Zune batch, which is separate.)

Source: engadget

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

This past week saw the launch of the new marketing campaign for the new Zunes heading our way November 13th. Cesar Menendez of the Zune Insider put the first TV commercial on Soapbox:

This years Zune campaign slogan: You Make It You. Makes sense. Zune is about your music, your videos, your photos, and now even your podcasts. Last year was welcoming us to the "social" - this year is making it about you. I love it. However - I’m not loving the commercial. Something about it just doesn’t work. Sure, its really cool to watch but it seems disconnected from the music, the device - essentially what Zune is all about. How can someone not knowing what the Zune is watch this commercial and get what Zune is all about? Folks watch iPod and iPhone commercials and *get* them and know what the devices are about. I’m sure this is one commercial of many planned so I’m not worried. I am pretty damn excited for the new Zunes - specifically the Zune 80 for me. And I simply cannot wait for the new Zune software. Those who know me know the Zune software has been the biggest pain point for owning a Zune. I have a feeling its going to get 100 times better.

Meanwhile, Cesar has welcomed Rob Greenlee to the Zune Team and blogger at the Zune Insider. Rob is like a podcasting God and has taken up the role of Podcast Programming & Marketing Lead. In Rob’s latest post, he talks about the upcoming new Zune software and the ability to "suggest a Podcast" via the new Zune software. Apparently the new Zune software and Zune Marketplace will have 1,000 podcasts in the Zune Marketplace Podcast Directory. By suggesting podcasts through the new Zune software, the list of podcasts in the Zune Marketplace can grow. I’m thinking about doing a weekly podcast/video podcast and submitting it to the Zune Marketplace. What do you all think?

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Ford and Microsoft are teaming up to donate 100% of all proceeds from the sales of a limited edition Pink Zune 30 towards the fight against breast cancer in observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

WIP707 This 30GB Zune has been specially customized for Warriors in Pink!
The Zune digital media player is easy to use and easy to love. Store up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 100 hours of video in your 30 GB device.
This product is a special edition and quantities are limited.
Thanks to the generosity of Ford and Microsoft, 100% of the purchase price of this item goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Buy Zune 30 today and help victims of breast cancer!

Links:
Warriors in Pink - Powered by Ford
Susan G. Komen
Ford
Microsoft Zune

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

So why did they call it Zune?

The answer, as with so many similar questions in Silicon Valley, lies with Lexicon Branding, a company in Sausalito that comes up with names for things.

Perhaps you've heard of some of Lexicon's names: BlackBerry, Pentium, PowerBook, OnStar.

In an e-mail interview, David Placek, founder and CEO of Lexicon, discussed the challenge his team faced in trying to name a new entry in an already cluttered field. A field that already had a dominant, well-named player.

"The creative strategy was quite simple: Don't try to be like iPod or to beat iPod," he said. Instead, he had to "create a new word that will help Microsoft to create a distinct personality."

Placek put three teams of two people each to work. One team was told to name Sony's breakthrough MP3 player, and another was told to name a broadband experience for MTV. The third team was clued in to all the Microsoft information.

"Additionally, the Lexicon Research Network of 60 Ph.D. linguists in 39 countries was tapped to provide insights into the latest brands in music and video entertainment and to give us suggestions as to words, word parts, sounds and metaphors that might be applied to a 'next generation entertainment system,'" Placek said.

To keep employees from getting swelled heads, Lexicon does not disclose which person or team came up with the name that is ultimately chosen. (Although that sounds amazing to me -- the person who came up with Zune now has to keep it a secret?)

Because the device is small, Placek said, it needed a small name. Lexicon considered 3,500 candidates with seven or fewer letters. And sometimes rhymes work best: "Zune's similar sound to 'Tunes' made a great connection for us," Placek said.

Lexicon also likes the buzz Zune gets from "z," and that it's a fun-sounding name.

Lexicon also had to think a great deal about the iPod and how Zune would relate. Placek offered some extensive thoughts about that, which I'll put on the jump.

Zune vs. iPod, according to David Placek:

Here are two imaginative and attractive names that describe competing product lines in an area that is hot with consumers. What different messages are communicated by these two very different names?

Each has its own way of looking modern. IPod's i- prefix links it to the Internet generation, while Zune is a newly coined word. Both are structurally simple. iPod is made of two elements, the prefix plus a common 3-letter word, adding up to a grand total of four letters. Zune has four letters also, is easy to pronounce, and is only one syllable long, comparing well even to iPod's two syllables.

The simplicity of the names suits their intent: mass market devices that are easy to operate and convenient to carry around. But however similar the devices may be functionally, the linguistic devices they employ differ substantially, resulting in distinct messages.

Zune's focus is liveliness and youth. The buzz of the sound "z" makes it one of the most energetic in the language. Lexicon's studies of sound symbolism, conducted with hundreds of people in a variety of languages, have shown that word-initial "z" scores very high for communicating attributes like "lively," "daring," and "fast."

The letter z's current popularity in respellings like "boyz" and "antz" lends a youthful irreverence. Even though it isn't obviously derived from any real word, Zune could pass for a casual abbreviation, in the same way that 'zza stood in for pizza with some people 10 years or so ago. Zune is clearly a fun kind of name.

The sounds of Zune also make a connection with music. After the highly audible z is the vowel u, made with the lips pursed as if one were whistling. The name ends with a musical ring, from the sound n.

If the sound of Zune is poetry to the ears, iPod is poetry for the brain. Using pod for a gadget that "cradles" digital music so that it can be carried around is as original as it is evocative, with an image so compelling that it gave rise to "podcast," a type of broadcast with no necessary connection to the iPod.

While the structure of Zune does not make reference to any other Microsoft product, iPod links the brand to some extent with other Apple offerings, notably iTunes but also iMac, iSight, iChat, iWork, and iLife. But of course the prefix is in general use, and there are possible but misguided links to non-Apple products. Among them are iRiver (a competing producer of portable music players) and iDrive (the BMW console for entertainment purposes, among others).

What does the name say about the company that developed the product? The youthful Zune, joining company with the equally young-sounding Xbox, promises to help Microsoft alter a stodgy image. iPod is more in line with Apple's current image, which has tended to be young and lively since the beginning, thanks to the name Apple and to the company's marketing thrust, as exemplified by the unforgettable slogan, "Think different."

Source: The Technology Chronicles

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Here is the head to head comparison between Microsoft Zune 80 and the Apple iPod Classic 80GB:

Who's better?  You get to be the judge!

Image courtesy: ZuneBoards.com

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Microsoft has taken a fresh approach in updating its mp3 lineup. They are not actually trying to replace the original Zune (called as Zune 30) but are actually adding new variety to their lineup. Now what does this actually means is that the current zune owners who bought Zune 30 will get all the new features (yes all of them) of Zune 4, Zune 8 and Zune 80 through a firmware upgrade. This is something which Apple has failed to deliver for their loyal iPod users. Whenever a new iPod was released, the older versions didn't get any new updates or the features of the newer models which left their loyal users with no option but to spend more bucks and get the new device.

In what I consider to be a classy move, Microsoft is imbuing each Zune device with exactly the same features. (And yes, this includes the original Zune 30, which will require a software update.) So if you have bought a Zune last year doesn't mean you're out of luck. What a concept.

Updates for Zune 30 will include:

• The new improved user interface.
• Ability to sync with Windows Vista PCs via WiFi.
• New desktop Zune software.
• Zune Community Site (a.k.a "Zune Social") to create dynamic Zune Cards and share their playlists etc. with fellow zuners.

Microsoft will also keep on selling Zune 30 along with their new lineup come this November.

The pricing for all four models will break down as follows:

Zune 4 - $149
Zune 8 - $199
Zune 30 - $199
Zune 80 - $249

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

The latest feature for Zune owners will be launching in November 2007. 
It will be called 'Zune Social' and will be a beta online community Web site that gives people a place to share their music tastes, knowledge and experiences with others. Powered by the music the community is listening to, Zune Social extends the connection between Zune customers from device-to-device to PC-to-PC.

• You will be able to Create your own musical identity. Dynamic online Zune Cards automatically reflect your musical preferences based on the music you play on your device or your PC through the Zune software. Personalize your Zune Card with your own picture, custom backgrounds, biographical information and more.
• Also, Develop your music discovery network. Invite friends, send and receive song recommendations, and post comments as you develop your Zune profile page. You can even post your Zune Card to today’s most popular social networking sites. Wherever your Zune Card is located, the content will update automatically based on the music you’re currently playing.
• See what others are listening to. Browse your friends’ Zune Cards and profile pages, or check out your favorite artists’ pages to find other listeners with similar musical tastes. Each artist and album page will rank the top listeners; it’s easy to click on their Zune Cards and see what they’re listening to.
• You are curious about a song?  Try before you buy. When you find a new artist or song that looks interesting — while browsing the Zune community pages or when you receive a song recommendation from a friend — you can sample a 30-second clip. If you like what you hear, link directly to Zune Marketplace to buy the song using Microsoft® Points or a Zune Pass.
• More ways to discover. Check out Zune Social community-generated charts to see the most-played artists, songs and albums, or read comments and recommendations posted by other Zune community members on album and artist pages.

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)

Now its officially announced:

We're expanding our family of devices with the addition of three new digital media players: Zune 4GB, Zune 8GB and Zune 80GB. The sleek, black Zune 80GB hard-drive model has a bright 3.2-inch screen and comes with new Zune Premium Headphones; the ultraportable Zune 4GB and Zune 8GB flash models are both available in pink, green, black and glossy red.

All new media players feature:

• Wireless sync [1]
• Extended wireless sharing [2]
• New innovative touch controls
• A built-in FM tuner
• Recorded television content to go [3]
• And more…

The Zune Social
Launching this November, Zune Social is a beta online community that’ll give members a place to share their music tastes with others.
Zune Marketplace
Zune software and Zune Marketplace get a dramatically different new look and feel this November, too.
New Accessories
Zune will be offering a new line of accessories to help consumers get the most from their Zune. Original Zune accessories will work with new Zune devices and new accessories will also work with the Zune 30GB. View new accessories.
Current Zune Users
Current Zune users will be able to upgrade and enjoy the new Zune software and Zune Marketplace on their PCs, plus new firmware for their devices as well. We will notify users in November that they're in need of an upgrade.
Available at stores in November, the new Zune devices are priced from $149 to $249. [4]

[1] Connect to your home wireless network and sync your Zune with your PC collection using your dock, AC adapter or speaker dock accessory.

[2] The Zune to Zune sharing feature may not be available for all songs on your device, and works only between Zune devices within wireless range of each other. This feature allows recipients to play full-length sample tracks up to 3 times.

[3] Requires a PC running Windows Vista® Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate and an integrated or external TV tuner.

[4] Estimated retail prices.  Actual retail prices may vary.

Source: Zune.net

Taimur Asad (The Microsoft "Wow" Blog!)